Damikaan

We just got back from a cruise with this port. We did the free Island Explorer bus. I highly recommend getting off at Thunder Hole and Jordan Pond.

We haven't been yet, so I can't speak to the quality, but in Sept. we are doing a Lucky Catch Cruises excursion in Portland. You go out on a lobster boat and help catch lobster, then you can buy one and take it to the Portland Lobster Company and for a fee they will cook it for you and provide side dishes. You can't get much fresher than that.

The Hampton Inn and Suites Staten Island and Hilton Garden Inn Staten Island both have a free shuttle to the ferry. You do have to make reservations for the shuttle there and back and the times available are somewhat limited.

I highly recommend Royal Caribbean over NCL. Also, the more days the better, so I would definitely choose the 9 night cruise.

Thanks Princeton, that is exactly what I was trying to figure out.

Thanks for the replies! We decided to just rent a car so we don't have to worry about catching the train at a certain time. Thanks for the cruise port link Grant2000; that gives some very helpful info.

Since we are docked in Quebec City for an entire day before the cruise ends, do they clear customs the day of arrival or do they do it the morning of disembarkation?

Our Royal Caribbean ship will be arriving in Quebec City and then staying overnight there before we have to disembark the next day. Will the disembarkation be the normal times or can we get off earlier than usual since we have already been in port for 24 hours? We are trying to catch the VIA train to Montreal and wonder if there is any way we can make the 8:15 AM train. The train station is just a few minute taxi ride from the pier. Does anyone have experience with this? Thanks!

I don't know if all Princess ships use the same menus, but the embarkation day lunch on the Regal a couple of weeks ago was one of my favorite meals in the dining room. The spinach and ricotta cheese ravioli and beef tenderloin were amazing!

Not sure about a piano bar, but they have a great band that plays frequently in the piazza. Also, the cruise director staff is hilarious at the "game show" type activities. The evening production shows and the comedian Carlos Oscar were very good.

Regarding the original question, we didn't find any secret areas, but I agree that deck 7 is a great spot to relax and often we were the only ones there. Also, deck 7, as far as you can go forward, is a great spot to see flying fish.

Thanks for the replies. Are the prices you find at the pier about the same as pre-booking a tour online?

We booked a last minute cruise and don't have time to pre-book a tour in St. Kitts. Can anyone tell me which of the popular guides have a booth right there at the pier where we can get an island tour? Normally I spend months researching the Cruise Critic threads but only have a couple of days this time. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

I faxed mine late last night, followed up with a phone call today and immediately had it posted to my cruise which is only 7 days away, so thankfully the requirement that it be sent in no later than 14 days prior to the cruise didn't apply.

Thanks everyone! I'm trying to pack light but think I will go ahead and bring my own. :)

Can anyone tell me if inside cabins on the Oasis have soap, shampoo, and conditioner provided? Thanks in advance.

Thanks for posting these.

Great!!! Thanks for the quick response.

Can the rewards OBC be used for gratuities?

We are doing a 5 night on the Oasis in December. Does anyone know which menus we won't have? Also wondering which shows we won't have on a 5 night.

We just walked around town. If you google "Nassau walking tours", you will find maps and descriptions of what to see. We got some yummy chocolate from the Graycliff Chocolatier at the Graycliff Hotel. (Be prepared to pay about $2.00 for a small piece.) In a couple of hours, you can see a lot of the sites.

We were told to arrive at 2:30 PM to board but we got there around 12:30 went through the check in lines, and walked straight onto the ship with no wait. Went to the Solarium and enjoyed a nice lunch with no crowds.

We did arrive later than planned in St. Thomas, but the taxis and private tour guides just meet you when you do arrive so i wouldn't worry about arriving late.

All aboard in Nassau was 1:15 PM so it was a pretty short time there.

We were on this cruise also. The headliner group was Abaracadabra but they aren't scheduled to be back on the Allure until the week of April 5th. It was our first Royal Caribbean cruise and it was great. We loved the shows and the ship. We had my time dining and had made reservations for 5:30 or 5:45 each night and we got right in as soon as they opened the doors and sat at the same table each night with our group of 4. Had excellent service from ShellyAnn. Our cabin steward was one of the best we have ever had. Overall it was a fabulous cruise.

Thanks for the replies. Since the reservation system only allowed us to choose 5:30, 5:45, or after 7:30, I wasn't sure if we would be able to just walk in around 6. We have done this type of dining on other cruise lines without reservations, but we are first time Royal Caribbean cruisers and some reviews have mentioned long wait times if you don't have a reservation.

We have MTD and I made our dinner reservations online. If there is an activity that causes us to miss our reservation can we just show up later?

I'm still a bit confused on the bag special. Is it Royal Caribbean policy to only allow small items? I don't iron at home so I'm not worried about them not being ironed. I am trying to pack light and would love to know if I can put pants and shirts into the bag. Thanks!